In the the central United States, bordering Arkansas, Oklahoma,
Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

NAME ORIGIN

For teh Missouri River, which forms part of its western border and crosses it
in an easterly direction. The name is either that of an Indian tribe that lived near the mouth
of the river, or possibly a word meaning "owners of big canoes." As recorded in a French text in
1673, the Indian name for the river was Pekitanoul or Pokitanou "muddy water";
its nickname is "Big Muddy."

STATE ANIMAL

STATE BIRD

Blue Bird (Sialia sialis)

STATE FISH

STATE FLOWER

Hawthorn Blossom

STATE FOSSIL

Crinoid

STATE GEM

STATE INSECT

Honeybee

STATE MINERAL

Galena

STATE SONG

"Missouri Waltz"

STATE SPORT

STATE STONE

STATE TREE

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus Florida)

STATE MOTTO

Salus populi suprema lex esto (Latin: "The Welfare of the people
shall be the supreme law")